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CHAPTER I.

WE have described Spain and the Keltic nations, together with Italy and the islands adjacent, and must now
speak of the remaining portions of Europe, dividing it in the
best way we can. That which remains is, on the east, all
the country beyond the Rhine, as far as the Don and the
mouth of the Sea of Azof; and, on the south, that which
the Danube bounds, lying between the Adriatic and the left
shores of the Euxine, as far as Greece and the Sea of Marmora, for the Danube, which is the largest of the rivers of
Europe, divides the whole territory of which we have spoken,
into two portions. This river from its commencement flows
southwards, then, making a sudden turn, continues its course
from west to east, which [terminates] in the Euxine Sea.
It takes its rise in the western confines of Germany, not far
from the head of the Adriatic, being distant from it about
1000 stadia,1 and falls into the Euxine near the mouths of
the Dniester2 and the Dnieper,3 inclining a little towards the
north. Thus the countries beyond the Rhine and Keltica are
situated to the north of the Danube, and are occupied by the
Galatic and German tribes, as far as the territory of the
Bastarnæ,4 the Tyregetæ,5 and the river Dnieper; so also is the country situated between the Dnieper, the Don, and the
mouth of the Sea of Azof, which on one side stretches back
as far as the [Northern] Ocean,6 and on another is washed
by the Euxine. To the south of the Danube are situated the
people of Illyria and Thrace, and mixed with them certain
tribes of Kelts and other races, extending as far as Greece.

We will first speak of those nations to the north of the
Danube, for their history is less involved than that of the
tribes situated on the other side of the river.
[2]

Next after the Keltic nations come the Germans who
inhabit the country to the east beyond the Rhine; and these
differ but little from the Keltic race, except in their being
more fierce, of a larger stature, and more ruddy in countenance; but in every other respect, their figure, their customs
and manners of life, are such as we have related of the
Kelts.7 The Romans therefore, I think, have very appositely
applied to them the name ‘Germani,’ as signifying genuine;
for in the Latin language Germani signifies genuine.8
[3]

The first division of this country is the land extending
along the Rhine from its source to its embouchure. Indeed,
the valley of that river extends nearly as far as the whole
breadth of Germany on the west. Of the people who occupied this country, some have been transplanted by the Romans
into Keltica, the others have retired to the interior, as the
Marsi;9 there are but few remaining, and some portion of them
are Sicambri;10 next to the inhabitants of this valley succeeds
the tribe dwelling between the Rhine and the river Elbe,11
which river flows towards the ocean in a direction nearly
parallel with the Rhine, and traversing a country of no less
extent. There are also between these other navigable rivers,
such as the Ems,12 on which Drusus defeated the Bructeri13 in
a naval engagement; all likewise flowing from south to north,
and falling into the ocean; for the whole country rises towards the south, and forms a ridge of mountains near the
Alps, which extends eastward as though it were a continuation of the Alps;14 and some have even so described it, as
well on account of its position as because it produces the
same system of vegetation; nevertheless, the altitude of this
ridge in no part equals that of the Alps. Here is situated
the Hercynian Wood,15 and the tribes of the Suevi,16 some of
whom inhabit the forest, as do likewise some of the Quadi.17
Among these latter people is situated Bujemum, the royal
city of Marobodus, whither he has assembled many strangers
and many of the Marcomanni, a kindred nation with his own.
This Marobodus, from a private station, raised himself to the
administration of affairs after his return from Rome. For
he went to that city while a youth, and was patronized by
Augustus. After he came home, he acquired the sovereignty
of his country, and added to the people I have enumerated,
the Luji,18 a powerful nation, and the Zumi,19 and the Gutones20
and Mugilones and Sibini, besides the Semnones, another con-
siderable tribe of the Suevi. As I have previously stated, a
portion of the Suevi dwells within the Forest, while another
portion occupies the territory beyond, on the frontiers of the
Getæ; wherefore the nation of the Suevi is the most considerable, as it extends from the Rhine as far as the Elbe,
and even a part of them, as the Hermonduri and the Langobardi, inhabit the country beyond the Elbe; but at the present time these tribes, having been defeated, have retired entirely beyond the Elbe. All these nations easily change their
abode, on account of the scantiness of provisions, and because
they neither cultivate the lands nor accumulate wealth, but
dwell in miserable huts, and satisfy their wants from day to
day, the most part of their food being supplied by the herd,
as amongst the nomade races, and in imitation of them they
transfer their households in waggons, wandering with their
cattle to any place which may appear most advantageous.
There are many other smaller German tribes, as the Cherusci,
Chatti, Gamabrivi,21 Chattuarii, and next the ocean the Sicambri, Chaubi,22 Bructeri,23 Cimbri, Cauci, Caulci, Campsiani,24 and many others.

In the same direction with the Ems,25 the Weser26 and the river Lippe27 take their course, the latter, distant about 600
stadia from the Rhine, flows through the territory of the
Lesser Bructeri. And there is also the river Sala,28 between
which and the Rhine Drusus Germanicus died, whilst in the
midst of his victories. He not only subdued the greater part
of the German tribes, but also the islands on the coast he
passed along, one amongst which is Byrchanis,29 which he
took by siege.
[4]

All these nations became known through their wars with
the Romans, at one time submitting, at another revolting and
quitting their habitations; and we should have become acquainted with a greater number of their tribes, if Augustus
had permitted his generals to pass the Elbe, in pursuit of those
who had fled thither; but he considered the war on hand
would be more easily brought to a conclusion, if he left the
people on the other side of the Elbe unmolested, and not by
attacking provoke them to make common cause with his
enemies.

The Sicambri inhabiting the country next the Rhine were
the first to commence the war, under the conduct of their
leader, Melon; other nations afterwards followed their example, at one time being victorious, at another defeated, and
again recommencing hostilities, without regard to hostages or
the faith of treaties. Against these people mistrust was the
surest defence; for those who were trusted effected the most
mischief. For example, the Cherusci, and those who were
subject to them, amongst whom three Roman legions with
their general, Quintilius Varus, perished by ambush, in violation of the truce; nevertheless all have received punishment
for this perfidy, which furnished to Germanicus the Younger
the opportunity of a most brilliant triumph, he leading publicly as his captives the most illustrious persons, both men
and women, amongst whom were Segimuntus,30 the son of
Segestes, the chief of the Cherusci, and his sister, named
Thusnelda, the wife of Armenius, who led on the Cherusci
when they treacherously attacked Quintilius Varus, and even
to this day continues the war; likewise his son Thumelicus,
a boy three years old, as also Sesithacus, the son of Segimerus,31 chief of the Cherusci, and his wife Rhamis, the daughter
of Ucromirus,32 chief of the Chatti,33 and Deudorix, the son of Bætorix, the brother of Melon, of the nation of the Sicambri; but Segestes, the father-in-law of Armenius, from the
commencement opposed the designs of his son-in-law, and
taking advantage of a favourable opportunity, went over to
the Roman camp and witnessed the triumphal procession over
those who were dearest to him, he being held in honour by
the Romans. There was also led in triumph Libes the priest
of the Chatti, and many other prisoners of the various vanquished nations, the Cathylci and the Ampsani, the Bructeri,
the Usipi, the Cherusci, the Chatti, the Chattuarii, the Landi,34
the Tubattii.35

The Rhine is distant from the Elbe about 3000 stadia, if
one could travel in a direct line; but we are compelled to go
a circuitous route, on account of the windings of the marshes
and the woods.
[5]

The Hercynian Forest36 is extremely dense, and overgrown with very large trees, covering an immense circuit of
country, fortified by nature. In the midst of it is situated
the region well suited for habitation, of which we have spoken.
Near this forest are the sources of the Danube and the Rhine,
and the lake37 situated between these, together with the
marshes formed by the Rhine. The circuit of the lake is
more than 30038 stadia, and the distance across about 200.
In this lake is an island which served Tiberius as an arsenal,
in the naval war with the Vindelici. This lake is south of
the sources of the Danube and the Hercynian Forest, so that
in passing from Keltica39 to the forest, one has first to cross
the lake, then the Danube, and afterwards by a more passable
country, and over elevated plains, you approach the forest.
When Tiberius had proceeded but one day's journey from the
lake, he came in sight of the sources of the Danube.40

The territory of the Rhæti41 borders some portion of this
lake, but the greater part of the shores belong to the Helvetii42
and Vindelici43 [the Norici come next after the Vindelici
in an easterly direction,]44 and the desert of the Boii.45 The
nations as far as the Pannonians,46 but more especially the
Helvetii and Vindelici, inhabit high table lands. The Rhæti
and the Norici,47 verging towards Italy, extend over the very
summits of the Alps; the former confining with the Insubri,48
the latter the Carni,49 and the districts about Aquileia. There
is likewise another great forest, named Gabreta, on this side
the territory of the Suevi, while beyond them lies the Hercynian Wood, which also is in their possession.

1 Strabo, in a subsequent passage, states that the distance from the
Danube to the city Trieste, at the head of the Adriatic, is about 1200
stadia.

4 The Bastarnæ were a people occupying portions of the modern Moldavia, Podolia, and the Ukraine.

5 The Tyregetæ, or the Getæ of the river Tyras, were a people dwelling on the Dniester, to the south of the Bastarnæ.

6 The ancient geographers supposed that the Northern Ocean extended
to the 56° of north latitude. Their notions of the existence of the Baltic
were vague. They therefore confounded it with the Northern Ocean,
thus making the continent of Europe to extend only to the 56° of north
latitude.

8 Strabo's words are, γνήσιοιγάοͅοὶγεοͅμανοὶκατὰτὴν῾πωμαίωνδιάλεκτον. It is possible he may be endeavouring to explain that the yep
in Germani is equivalent to the Latin verus, ‘true,’ the wahr of modern
German, and that Germani signifies the true men of the country, the undoubted autochthones of Galatia or Gaul.

9 The Marsi were a people dwelling on the banks of the Ems, near
Munster.

13 The name of this tribe is written variously by different authors.
They are supposed to have occupied the lands between the Rhine, the
Ems, and the Lippe, but their boundaries were very uncertain, on account of their continual wars.

14 This refers to the chain of mountains which, running from the north
of Switzerland, traverses Wurtemberg, Franconia, Bohemia, Moravia,
and joins Mount Krapak.

15 The Hercynian Wood, or Black Forest, was either one or a succession of continuous forests, extending from the banks of the Rhine to the
confines of Persia and Bactriana.

16 The Suevi occupied a considerable portion of Germany, to the north
and east of Bohemia.

17 Coldui manuscripts. Kramer agrees with Cluverius in this instance,
and we have followed Kramer's text.

38 Strabo could hardly have intended 300, since the diameter of the
lake is given at 200. Velser conjectures that 500 or 600 would be the
proper reading. Its exact circumference is about 550 stadia.

39 Gossellin considers that by Keltica we are to understand Cisalpine
Gaul, and the neighbourhood of Milan and Mantua.

40 Gossellin says that the sources of the Danube are about 14 leagues
distant from the western extremity of the Lake Constance.

41 The Rhæti possessed the countries of the Grisons and the Tyrol, extending to the eastern shores of the Lake Constance.

42 The Helvetii, or Swiss, possessed the southern borders of the Lake
Constance.

43 The Vindelici occupied the country on the northern borders of the
lake, with the regions of Swabia and Bavaria south of the Danube, and
reaching to the Inn. Gossellin.

44 It is evident that some words have been omitted in this place. The
words we have inserted are the conjecture of Cluverius and Groskurd.

45 As far as we can make out from Strabo and Pliny, book iii. cap. 27,
the desert of the Boii stretched along the shores of the Danube from the
river Inn to the mountains a little west of Vienna, which were the boundary between the Norici and the Pannonians. This strip of land is now
called the Wiener-Wald, or Forest of Vienna. Doubtless it took its
name of Desert of the Boii on account of its contiguity to the south of
the country occupied by those people, and which still bears the name of
Bohemia.

46 The Pannonians occupied the districts of Hungary west of the Danube.

47 The Norici inhabited that part of Austria which lies between the
Danube and the Alps.

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